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  • About
  • The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is provided by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
    Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
71

Prova, argumento e decisão: critérios de suficiência para orientação dos juízos de fato no direito processual brasileiro / Evidence, reasoning and decision: standards of proof as a guide to judgments about facts in Brazilians procedural law

Silveira, Daniel Coutinho da 06 June 2011 (has links)
A noção de livre convencimento estipula ao julgamento de processos judiciais uma investigação sobre fatos amparada em avaliação epistemológica. Essa estratégia, entretanto, apresenta dificuldades insuperáveis nas diversas formulações desse tipo de raciocínio por não oferecer respostas definitivas para solucionar problemas práticos, como aqueles envolvidos na concretização do direito, levando a graus diferentes de dúvida. Diante desse quadro surge a pergunta sobre qual nível de confirmação será aceito para respaldar uma decisão. Esse trabalho propõe como solução a tal aporia uma aproximação dos argumentos utilizados para a decisão em matéria de fato à estrutura dos argumentos práticos. Assim, além das reflexões epistemológicas, incorporam-se elementos morais e políticos em seu esquema central. Por meio dessa conclusão são introduzidos obrigatoriamente ao raciocínio judicial o que se denomina critérios de suficiência, orientações sobre o grau de comprovação das versões levantadas num caso concreto. Esse instituto, além de imprescindível para viabilizar a racionalidade dos juízos de fato, assume ainda a função de distribuir o risco de decisões equivocadas entre os litigantes. Trata-se de elemento de legitimação das decisões em matéria de fato, mediante a argumentação dos riscos que o processo envolve. Esse raciocínio não é de forma alguma ignorado pela dogmática jurídica brasileira, embora não seja adequadamente sistematizado. Daí a importância de sua abordagem teórica, a demonstrar que é requisito imprescindível de legitimação das decisões sobre fatos tomadas nos processos judiciais, e verificação prática de diversos institutos, integralmente compatíveis com essa proposição. A partir de experiências jurídicas que tratam do assunto de modo sistematizado a mais tempo, propõe-se uma discussão sobre os termos que devem ser observados no ordenamento brasileiro em acordo com suas características. / The idea of free proof stipulates to judicial process decision an investigation over facts supported only by epistemological evaluation. This strategy, however, presents unbearable difficulties in the various manifestations of this kind of reasoning, as it does not offers definitive answers to solve practical problems, like those involved in applying the law, which leads to different degrees of doubt. Considering this picture, emerges the question about what level of confirmation will be accepted to sustain a decision. This dissertation proposes as a solution to the presented aporia an approximation of the arguments utilized to decide about facts to the structure of practical argumentation. Thus, beyond epistemological reasons, moral and political elements are incorporate to its central sketch. Through this conclusion are necessarily introduced to judicial reasoning what is called standards of proof, guidance about the degree of confirmation which versions must sustained to be successful on specific situations. This institute, additionally to its importance to validate the rationality of factual decisions, it assumes the purpose of distributing the risk of wrong perceptions among litigants. Its an element of legitimating decisions about facts, by reasoning the risks that the process handles. This reasoning is not at all ignored by Brazilian law, in despite of its lack of systematization. Hence the importance of its theoretical approach, which demonstrates that is an indispensible requirement of legitimacy to the decisions about facts taken in judicial processes, and of its practical approach, verifying the compatibility of several law mechanisms to this proposition. Build on juridical experiences that study the subject in an systematized fashion and longer than our occupation of the subject, it is proposed a discussion about the terms in which these should be observed in Brazilian law, in accordance to its characteristics.
72

La exhibición de documentos probatorios y soportes informáticos

Pereira Puigvert, Sílvia 14 September 2012 (has links)
The objective of the PhD thesis is the analysis of the institute of the exhibition of documents (of an evidentiary nature and technical support) in the Spanish civil procedure. It deals with addressing a momentous problem of the practice of documentary evidence: the access to the document on behalf of whom intends to introduce it in the procedure, when this is found in the power of the opposite litigant or of a third party beyond the procedure. The issue until now, hasn't been worthy of a monographic approach in Spanish Law, in open contrast to what occurs with more advanced legal systems of our environment. In this work, what has been examined is the existing scientific bibliography, which deals with the different general aspects of the exhibition of documents, as well as abundant jurisprudence; it has dealt with providing the institution from a solid doctrinal base, as well as the resolution of numerous practical and theoretical problems that arise, analyzing the different mechanisms that the legal system offers in order to allow the litigant access to the documents that are required so as to advance the claims which I have attached in the procedure. Particularly, the subject of the exhibition of technical support has been tackled, a matter entailing new, special problems, which until this point, have hardly been studied. / El objetivo de la tesis doctoral es el análisis del instituto de la exhibición de documentos (de índole probatoria y soportes informáticos) en el proceso civil español. Se trata de afrontar un problema trascendental de la práctica de la prueba documental: el acceso al documento por parte de quien pretende introducirlo en el proceso, cuando éste se halle en poder del litigante contrario o de un tercero ajeno al proceso. La cuestión no ha merecido hasta la actualidad un tratamiento monográfico en Derecho español, en abierto contraste con lo que sucede con los ordenamientos jurídicos más avanzados de nuestro entorno. En la obra se ha examinado la bibliografía científica existente que trata sobre los diferentes aspectos generales de la exhibición documental, así como abundante jurisprudencia y se ha tratado de dotar a la institución de una base doctrinal sólida, así como de resolver numerosos problemas prácticos y teóricos que se plantean, analizando los diferentes mecanismos que ofrece el ordenamiento jurídico para permitir el acceso a los documentos al litigante que los precisa para hacer prosperar las pretensiones que adujo en el proceso. En especial, se ha abordado el tema de la exhibición de soportes informáticos, materia que entraña muy especiales y novedosos problemas, hasta el momento escasamente estudiado. / L’objectiu de la tesi doctoral és l’anàlisi de l’institut de l’exhibició de documents (de naturalesa probatòria i suports informàtics) en el procés civil espanyol. Es tracta d’afrontar un problema transcendental de la pràctica de la prova documental: l’accés al document per part de qui pretén introduir-lo en el procés, quan aquest es trobi en poder del litigant contrari o d’un tercer aliè al procés. La qüestió no ha merescut fins a l’actualitat un tractament monogràfic en el Dret espanyol, en obert contrast amb el que succeeix en els ordenaments jurídics més avançats del nostre entorn. A l’obra s’examina la bibliografia científica existent que tracta sobre els diferents aspectes generals de l’exhibició documental, així com abundant jurisprudència; s’ha volgut dotar a la institució d’una sòlida base doctrinal, així com resoldre nombrosos problemes pràctics i teòrics que es plantegen, analitzant els diferents mecanismes que ofereix l’ordenament jurídic per permetre l’accés als documents al litigant que els precisa per fer prosperar les pretensions que va adduir en el procés. En especial, s’ha abordat el tema de l’exhibició de suports informàtics, aspecte que comporta actuals i rellevants problemes, fins al moment escassament estudiat.
73

Guidelines for testifying in court

Molefe, Sannah Nthabiseng 22 May 2018 (has links)
This study was conducted with the aim to research guidelines for uniformed members, detectives, and public witnesses, for use in testifying in court. The researcher reviewed relevant literature, both national and international, in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the research problem. The researcher conducted the research on the basis of an empirical design, be-cause it involved going out into the field and ascertaining the personal experiences and knowledge of the participants. The explicit design was considered the most suitable for this research, because the researcher put everything in the open by checking the weak points and the strong points regarding testifying in court. This means that everything was made open, even police testimony. / Police Practice / M. Tech. (Forensic Investigation)
74

Hoorsê : 'n waardebepaling van die uitwerking van die 1988 wetgewing

Kock, Wynand Louw 09 1900 (has links)
Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Text in Afrikaans / Until 1988, hearsay-evidence in our legal system was governed by common law. During this period resistance developed regarding the practice that hearsay which complied with certain exceptions could indeed be allowed. Case law excluded further exceptions being added. Legislation was enacted in 1988 in which hearsay was defined, a total exclusionary rule retained, but the Courts given a wide discretion to allow hearsay. Via this legislation a more accommodating stance towards hearsay was introduced. This dissertation aimed at measuring whether the legislation achieved its objectives and consisted of analysing case law and interviewing Judges and Advocates. The conclusion arrived at is that the legislation has only marginally changed the usage of hearsay in our legal system. The major obstacle lies in the attitude of practitioners who continue to distrust hearsay and do not utilize the mechanism provided by statute. / Tot en met 1988, is hoorse-getuienis in ons regstelsel gemeenregtelik beheer. In die tydperk bet besware egter geleidelik ontwikkel veral oor die gekunstelde wyse waarop hoorsê as aan bepaalde uitsonderings voldoen is wel toegelaat is. Regspraak het voorts ook bepaal dat geen verdere uitsonderings toegevoeg kon word nie. In 1988 is wetgewing uitgevaardig waarin hoorsê-getuienis omskryf word, 'n algehele uitsluitingsreel behou word maar aan die howe 'n wye diskresie verleen word om na oorweging van voorgeskrewe faktore, hoorsê wei toe te laat. Die oogmerk van hierdie wetgewing was om 'n meganisme daar te stel om soos by die civil regstelsels en sekere ander Iande, 'n meer toeskietlike houding jeens hoorsê te bewerkstellig. Hierdie verhandeling se hoofdoel was om te bepaal of die wetgewing in die doel geslaag bet. Om tot 'n bevinding te kom is regspraak ontleed, en is onderhoude gevoer beide met Regters en die Advokatuur. Die slotsom bereik dui daarop dat die wetgewing maar weinig verander bet in die gebruikmaking van hoorse-getuienis in ons regstelsel. Wat die wetgewing self betref, hoewel daar sekere besware te make is oor sekere bepalings, verskaf dit tog 'n bruikbare instrument. Die grootste struikelblok is gelee in die instelling van die praktisyns wat bly vasklou aan 'n gevestigde vrees vir hoarse en nie gebruikmaak van die nuwe geleentheid nou deur die wetgewing daargestel nie. / Law / LL.M.
75

A critical study of the authentication requirements of section 2 of the Computer Evidence Act No. 57 of 1983

Mapoma, Siyabulela Xhanti. 11 1900 (has links)
The aim of this dissertation is to show the shortcomings of the Computer Evidence Act No 57 of 1983 , in so far as the requirements of authentication of computer generated documents before their admissibility as evidence in a court of law. / LL.M.
76

Raciocínio probatório por inferências: critérios para o uso e controle das presunções judiciais

Schmitz, Leonard Ziesemer 25 September 2018 (has links)
Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-11-21T09:00:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Leonard Ziesemer Schmitz.pdf: 2040475 bytes, checksum: 4703c1d0434a03117e5c00bb5132f267 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-21T09:00:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leonard Ziesemer Schmitz.pdf: 2040475 bytes, checksum: 4703c1d0434a03117e5c00bb5132f267 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-09-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The present doctoral thesis seeks to deal with judicial presumptions, thus understood inferential reasoning about unknown facts, from facts known and proven in a concrete case. First, we want to identify if there are the spaces of discretion that are shielded by insufficient presumptive arguments. The work is divided into two parts, with three chapters each. The first part serves to establish theoretical premises, and the second part to approach more closely the topic of presumptions in court. The first chapter discusses the conditions of possibility for the interpreter of a particular case to become aware of the facts narrated by other Interpreter-Subjects. Further notes are given on how the ransom of the past occurs when the judge analyzes the evidence and the probative narratives of the parties. The second chapter deals with science and rationality as grounds for the relation between two facts – one known, one unknown. Considerations are made about generalizations from experience, which allow for deductive, inductive, and analogical reasoning. Also questioned is the sufficiency of the use of the argument of "rationality", often insufficient to infer. The third chapter discusses the relationship between evidence and truth, especially when a judicial presumption is often made in the name of the "pursuit of truth" in the judicial process. Moving on to the second part, the fourth chapter addresses the division of labor between parties and judge in the correctness of the facts, establishing limits of action of each Subject of the process. There is also talk of judicial evidentiary activism. The fifth chapter deals specifically with the presumptions and rules of experience (Article 375 of the CPC), which serve as argumentative basis for inferences. The sixth and final chapter captures presumptions in their practical use and speaks, in detail, of the decision to reorganize and organize the process (article 357 of the CPC), which may be an opportune moment for the correct treatment of the subject. Finally, conclusions are drawn about a possible criteriology for the legitimate and discursive use of inferential reasoning / A presente tese de doutoramento busca tratar das presunções simples ou presunções judiciais, assim entendidos os raciocínios inferenciais sobre fatos não conhecidos, a partir de fatos conhecidos e provados em um caso concreto. Quer-se, antes de tudo, identificar quais são os espaços de discricionariedade que se blindam por trás de fundamentos presuntivos insuficientes. O trabalho está dividido em duas partes, com três capítulos cada. A primeira parte serve para estabelecer premissas teóricas, e a segunda para abordar mais de perto o tema das presunções em juízo. O primeiro capítulo fala a respeito das condições de possibilidade para que o intérprete de um caso concreto tome conhecimento dos fatos narrados por outros Sujeitos-intérpretes. São feitas ainda anotações sobre a maneira como o resgate do passado ocorre quando o juiz analisa as provas e as narrativas probatórias das partes. O segundo capítulo trata da ciência e da racionalidade como fundamentos para a relação entre dois fatos – um sabido, outro não sabido. Fazem-se considerações sobre as generalizações a partir da experiência, que permitem raciocínios dedutivos, indutivos e analógicos. É também questionada a suficiência do uso do argumento “racionalidade”, muitas vezes insuficiente para presumir. O terceiro capítulo fala sobre a relação entre provas e verdade, especialmente quando uma presunção judicial frequentemente é feita em nome da “busca da verdade” no processo judicial. Dando início à segunda parte, o quarto capítulo discute a divisão de trabalho entre partes e juiz no acertamento dos fatos, estabelecendo limites de atuação de cada Sujeito do processo. Fala-se também do ativismo judicial em matéria de provas e da possibilidade de produção oficiosa de provas. O quinto capítulo trata especificamente das presunções e das regras da experiência (art. 375, do CPC), que lhes servem de base. O sexto e último capítulo capta as presunções em seu uso prático e fala, com detalhe, da decisão de saneamento e organização do processo (art. 357, do CPC), que pode ser um momento oportuno para o trato correto do tema. Por fim, são traçadas conclusões a respeito de uma possível criteriologia para o uso legítimo e discursivo do raciocínio inferencial probatório
77

Prova, argumento e decisão: critérios de suficiência para orientação dos juízos de fato no direito processual brasileiro / Evidence, reasoning and decision: standards of proof as a guide to judgments about facts in Brazilians procedural law

Daniel Coutinho da Silveira 06 June 2011 (has links)
A noção de livre convencimento estipula ao julgamento de processos judiciais uma investigação sobre fatos amparada em avaliação epistemológica. Essa estratégia, entretanto, apresenta dificuldades insuperáveis nas diversas formulações desse tipo de raciocínio por não oferecer respostas definitivas para solucionar problemas práticos, como aqueles envolvidos na concretização do direito, levando a graus diferentes de dúvida. Diante desse quadro surge a pergunta sobre qual nível de confirmação será aceito para respaldar uma decisão. Esse trabalho propõe como solução a tal aporia uma aproximação dos argumentos utilizados para a decisão em matéria de fato à estrutura dos argumentos práticos. Assim, além das reflexões epistemológicas, incorporam-se elementos morais e políticos em seu esquema central. Por meio dessa conclusão são introduzidos obrigatoriamente ao raciocínio judicial o que se denomina critérios de suficiência, orientações sobre o grau de comprovação das versões levantadas num caso concreto. Esse instituto, além de imprescindível para viabilizar a racionalidade dos juízos de fato, assume ainda a função de distribuir o risco de decisões equivocadas entre os litigantes. Trata-se de elemento de legitimação das decisões em matéria de fato, mediante a argumentação dos riscos que o processo envolve. Esse raciocínio não é de forma alguma ignorado pela dogmática jurídica brasileira, embora não seja adequadamente sistematizado. Daí a importância de sua abordagem teórica, a demonstrar que é requisito imprescindível de legitimação das decisões sobre fatos tomadas nos processos judiciais, e verificação prática de diversos institutos, integralmente compatíveis com essa proposição. A partir de experiências jurídicas que tratam do assunto de modo sistematizado a mais tempo, propõe-se uma discussão sobre os termos que devem ser observados no ordenamento brasileiro em acordo com suas características. / The idea of free proof stipulates to judicial process decision an investigation over facts supported only by epistemological evaluation. This strategy, however, presents unbearable difficulties in the various manifestations of this kind of reasoning, as it does not offers definitive answers to solve practical problems, like those involved in applying the law, which leads to different degrees of doubt. Considering this picture, emerges the question about what level of confirmation will be accepted to sustain a decision. This dissertation proposes as a solution to the presented aporia an approximation of the arguments utilized to decide about facts to the structure of practical argumentation. Thus, beyond epistemological reasons, moral and political elements are incorporate to its central sketch. Through this conclusion are necessarily introduced to judicial reasoning what is called standards of proof, guidance about the degree of confirmation which versions must sustained to be successful on specific situations. This institute, additionally to its importance to validate the rationality of factual decisions, it assumes the purpose of distributing the risk of wrong perceptions among litigants. Its an element of legitimating decisions about facts, by reasoning the risks that the process handles. This reasoning is not at all ignored by Brazilian law, in despite of its lack of systematization. Hence the importance of its theoretical approach, which demonstrates that is an indispensible requirement of legitimacy to the decisions about facts taken in judicial processes, and of its practical approach, verifying the compatibility of several law mechanisms to this proposition. Build on juridical experiences that study the subject in an systematized fashion and longer than our occupation of the subject, it is proposed a discussion about the terms in which these should be observed in Brazilian law, in accordance to its characteristics.
78

Apontamentos sobre o protesto notarial / Remarks on notarial protest

Reinaldo Velloso dos Santos 25 May 2012 (has links)
O presente trabalho tem por objetivo discorrer sobre o protesto notarial de títulos e outros documentos de dívida, por meio da sistematização da literatura existente sobre o assunto. A parte inicial contempla breves linhas sobre a função notarial e o estudo do tema sob a perspectiva histórica e de Direito Comparado. Em seguida, é delineado o panorama atual do instituto no Brasil. Ao final do trabalho, o autor traz reflexões sobre o tema, incluindo a análise econômica, o cotejo com o Direito Comparado e o estudo dos desafios e perspectivas. Ao longo do estudo verifica-se que o protesto se caracteriza como meio célere e eficaz para a comprovação do inadimplemento e do descumprimento de obrigações, propiciando ao devedor o conhecimento da apresentação feita em caráter oficial pelo credor, com a possibilidade de pagamento ou oferecimento de resposta, no prazo de três dias úteis. O ato é de incumbência de um tabelião, profissional do Direito aprovado em concurso público e dotado de fé pública, que atua sob a fiscalização do Poder Judiciário. O protesto exerce relevante função econômica no Brasil, servindo como confiável parâmetro para a concessão do crédito no mercado, meio de estímulo à pontualidade no cumprimento das obrigações e instrumento para recuperação do crédito. Dessa forma, o instituto tem contribuído para a construção de um ambiente institucional favorável ao desenvolvimento da atividade econômica no Brasil. / The purpose of this study is to present an analysis of the notarial protest of negotiable instruments, contracts and other types of documents, based on a compilation of knowledge on mentioned subject. The initial part is dedicated to the notarial activity, followed by the study of the theme from a historical and Comparative Law perspective. The next chapter provides an overview of the current regulation of notarial protest in Brazil. Finally, there are some personal reflections regarding the theme, including economic analysis, a Comparative Law approach and the study of current challenges and future perspectives on the subject. The notarial protest is a fast and effective procedure used to obtain formal proof of dishonor. Moreover, it gives the debtor an opportunity to pay or to declare the reason why it is excused, in three business days. The act is drawn up by a public notary, an independent legal professional appointed by the State, who acts under the supervision of the court. The notarial protest plays a relevant economic role in Brazil, providing reliable information to the credit market and encouraging prompt payment. Furthermore, it is a useful debt recovery tool. In conclusion, the notarial protest is an important element in the Brazilian legal system that contributes to improve the quality of the institutional environment.
79

O tratamento probatório nas ações ressarcitórias decorrentes de divulgação não consensual de imagens íntimas no processo civil brasileiro

Barbosa, Thais da Silva 11 May 2018 (has links)
Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-06-15T13:02:54Z No. of bitstreams: 1 thaisdasilvabarbosa.pdf: 992920 bytes, checksum: 428c75972ac6eebd731a06fa9f792735 (MD5) / Rejected by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br), reason: on 2018-06-15T13:14:29Z (GMT) / Submitted by Geandra Rodrigues (geandrar@gmail.com) on 2018-06-15T13:23:47Z No. of bitstreams: 0 / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-06-27T14:04:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 0 / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2018-06-27T14:06:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-27T14:06:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-05-11 / O processo civil brasileiro é importante instrumento para a concretização dos direitos garantidos constitucionalmente no país. Há casos, contudo, em que a forma como se encontra previsto possibilita que a parte experimente nova dor ao buscar a tutela de uma primeira; é o que a criminologia chama de "sobrevitimização" ou "vitimização secundária", ao discutir as instâncias policiais e o processo penal. O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar se isso poderia acontecer no processo civil quando diante de uma ação de reparação por divulgação não consensual de imagens íntimas, principalmente no momento de produção probatória. Preocupou-se em se equilibrar o cuidado com a sobrevitimização com o direito de defesa da parte contrária para não ferir a igualdade dentro do processo. Para tanto, considerou-se a desestruturada relação de gênero anterior ao processo e seus reflexos na produção probatória, com discursos culpabilizantes e destoantes do objeto da lide. A análise se baseou nos meios de provas típicos possíveis de serem utilizados em uma ação dessa natureza proposta por uma mulher adulta. Verificada a possibilidade de vitimização secundária, se buscou um modo de afastá-la ou minorá-la no curso do processo, através de releituras dos institutos de direito probatório, enfatizando o papel de cada sujeito processual na superação dessa situação. / The Brazilian Civil Procedure is an important tool to realize rights constitutionally guaranteed. In some cases, however, the way that is envisaged make possible that the part experience a new pain when trying to reach a legal response for a first one; this is named by criminology as “over victimization” or “second victimization”, applied in their studies about police forces and criminal procedure. The aim of this work was to check if this was possible to happen in civil procedure when dealing with a suit of non consensual intimate images, specially during evidence production. The work has been concerned in balance the worries about over victimization with the right to defense of the opposite part, to not damage the equality in the procedure. It was therefore considered the dysfunctional gender relation prior the lawsuit and the reflections of it during the evidence production, like guilt-apportioning and unconnected sentences with the lawsuit’s object. The analyses were based in the typical evidences possible of being used in a law suit of that matter proposed by an adult woman. Established the possibility of over victimization, it reached for a way to eliminate or reduce it during the procedure, through reinterpretation of the evidence law institutes, highlighting the paper of each party in overcoming this situation.
80

The possibility of psychotherapeutic privilege in South Africa

Gewald, Rieka Susan January 2009 (has links)
Privilege is an evidential principle which, on the grounds of public policy, excludes evidence relevant and otherwise admissible. This thesis aims to discover whether privilege should be applied to the psychotherapeutic profession in South Africa. At present, the only profession in South Africa afforded privilege is the legal profession. There are two main theoretical justifications for privilege: the utilitarian and the individual/human rights approach. This thesis considers whether the psychotherapeutic profession wan-ants privilege under either theory, and recommends that the law of privilege integrate both theories rather than adopt one or the other. The impact of the Constitution and the right to privacy receive particular attention. Very little literature or case law on the question of psychotherapeutic privilege was found in South Africa. Consequently, extensive comparative research into the common-law systems of England, Canada and United States of America was done. This research yielded some interesting findings. The first is that case-by-case development of the law of privilege is uncel1ain and fragmented. The next is that psychotherapeutic privilege exists in almost absolute form in the United States of America, but is littered with lacunae causing as much uncertainty as the case-by-case approach to privilege law. The most helpful method of dealing with the problem was found in Canada, where a two-stage approach to protecting personal information, including psychotherapeutic records, has been developed. In light of this research, this thesis reassesses the original viability of psychotherapeutic privilege in South Africa. Privilege, it was found, is not the best solution to protecting psychotherapeutic communications. This thesis recommends legislative adoption of an amended two-stage approach based on the Canadian model for sexual offence trials as the best method of protecting psychotherapeutic communications in both civil and criminal proceedings. The thesis ends by suggesting draft legislative provisions.

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